PBS Distribution has announced the Blu-ray release of
The Nature of Genius, a collection of two documentaries from filmmaker Michael Apted:
Inspirations and
Me & Isaac Newton. Known for films including
Gorillas in the Mist,
Nell,
The World Is Not Enough and
Coal Miner's Daughter, Apted's documentary roots began in the 1960s with the acclaimed
Up series, where from
7 Up to
56 Up, he has followed the lives of the same fourteen British children.
The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack edition of
The Nature of Genius arrives on December 10th.
Inspirations Synopsis: How do artists get ideas? This is the question and premise underlying "Inspirations," a documentary exploring the creative force of seven very different artists. The artists profiled -- musician David Bowie, painter Roy Lichtenstein, glass artist Dale Chihuly, choreographer Édouard Lock, dancer Louise LeCavalier, architect Tadao Ando and sculptor Nora Naranjo-Morse -- reveal a fascinating similarity of experience when it comes to their muse. The artists discuss their solitary and collaborative methods, fears of failure, and the excitement that comes with pioneering new work.
Me & Isaac Newton Synopsis: This documentary delves into the hearts and minds of seven scientists who have solved old scientific mysteries in creative ways. Ranging in age, each reveals their personal histories and commitment to positively affecting the world. From primatologist Patricia Wright, a former housewife and schoolteacher whose fascination with lemurs led to saving a rainforest, to cognitive scientist and author Steven Pinker, whose studies of the human mind examine its use of language and sensory input, all view life through their own unique lens, with groundbreaking results. The five other individuals profiled include pharmaceutical chemist Gertrude Elion, environmental physicist Ashok Gadgil, author and theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, roboticist Maja Matariæ and geneticist Karol Sikora.
PBS has yet to detail technical specifications.